Latest news with #NeerajGhaywan
News18
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Neeraj Ghaywan Thanks Homebound Team After Cannes, Omits DoP Pratik Shah Amid Allegations
Last Updated: Neeraj Ghaywan thanked the Homebound team post-Cannes, but his note made no mention of cinematographer Pratik Shah, who is facing abuse allegations. Homebound, Neeraj Ghaywan's much-discussed film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last month in the Un Certain Regard section, is now caught in the crosswinds of controversy. The film's cinematographer, Pratik Shah, recently came under fire after being accused of abuse and inappropriate conduct. Shortly after the allegations surfaced, Shah deleted his Instagram account, prompting speculation. While the production house has issued a statement, director Neeraj Ghaywan has now spoken—but notably, without mentioning Shah at all. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Ghaywan posted a detailed note of gratitude, reflecting on Homebound's journey and acknowledging key contributors to the film. Yet his omission of the cinematographer—traditionally a crucial creative collaborator—was impossible to overlook. 'Now that the whirlwind that was Cannes is over, I'd like to acknowledge the contributions of people associated with our film #Homebound," Ghaywan began. Now that the whirlwind that was Cannes is over, I'd like to acknowledge the contributions of people associated with our film #Homebound. Starting off with the writing process.— Neeraj Ghaywan (@ghaywan) June 2, 2025 He credited the origins of the story to Basharat Peer's moving New York Times article Taking Amrit Home. 'After introducing me to it, @somenmishra0 (Producer) pitched the idea of me directing the film to Basharat, and he was excited by the prospect. Something inside of me cried out to make the story come to life as I read it," Ghaywan wrote, adding that travelling with Peer to meet the families featured in the piece strengthened his desire to tell their story. The filmmaker went on to thank a long list of collaborators: story and screenplay consultant Sumit Roy, dialogue writer Varun Grover, dialect coach Shreedhar Dubey, the Dharma Productions development team, DA and script supervisor Ibad Shaikh, co-producer Melita Toscan Du Plantier, and editor Nitin Baid. He also clarified, 'I forgot to add that I also wrote the Screenplay of Homebound. That was by myself." Conspicuously absent from the list was Pratik Shah, who served as the cinematographer on the film. The omission comes shortly after abuse allegations surfaced online, though Ghaywan has yet to comment publicly on the controversy itself. Meanwhile, Dharma Productions, which backed the film, issued an official statement regarding the matter. 'Mr. Pratik Shah was a freelancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period, our internal committee for POSH didn't receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film Homebound," read the statement. Homebound, which stars Ishaan Khatter, Janhvi Kapoor, and Vishal Jethwa, received a nine-minute standing ovation at Cannes. It was executive produced by Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese and marked a significant moment in Indian cinema's global presence this year. Despite missing out on an award, the film was widely praised for its emotional depth and craftsmanship. First Published:
India Today
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Neeraj Ghaywan shares Homebound was inspired by powerful pandemic-era true story
After a whirlwind premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, director Neeraj Ghaywan thanked the entire team of 'Homebound' for their efforts and hard work behind the a heartfelt and layered post, Ghaywan not only celebrates the success of 'Homebound' but also turned the spotlight on the incredible team behind it, offering a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the film's even described what went behind conceptualising the idea and how did he land up writing the entire film. In a series of posts on X, he wrote, 'It all began with the article 'Taking Amrit Home" that Basharat Peer wrote for the New York Times. After introducing me to it, Somen Mishra. (Producer) pitched the idea of me directing the film to Basharat and he was excited by the prospect. Something inside of me cried out to make the story come to life as I read it. I travelled with Basharat to meet the families featured in the article. I was even more sure I wanted to pursue this story after meeting them. It made me reflect on my own life and I seeded that in the story. Basharat, without your article and your guidance, the Homebound journey would never have begun. I'm grateful to you (sic).'advertisementFollowing this, the director discussed that the tough part came when he had to craft a full-length feature celebrated for his directorial prowess, confessed, 'Writing an entire feature film by myself was a difficult undertaking for me. Sumit Roy arrived as a rescuer. Although he is credited as a story and screenplay consultant, his contribution goes beyond that. His mere presence helped me wade through a dark phase and shake off the self-doubt. For nearly three years he has been an integral part of the story and guided me on the screenplay. Sumit, you are an indispensable part of Homebound (sic).' He even acknowledged Shoaib Nazeer's assistance for the project. 'During our writing phase, Shoaib Nazeer assisted us. Not only did he bring valuable research but also specific cultural insights to the screenplay. Thank you, Shoaib, for being the bouncing board (sic),' he director even thanked Martin Scorsese for getting associated with the project. 'His feedback on the screenplay that you shared with us was genuinely useful in bringing a sharper focus (sic)' he wrote. The film was written by Neeraj Ghaywan and Sumit Roy. It is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with support from co-producers Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan du Plantier. In a huge boost, legendary Hollywood director Martin Scorsese has joined the project as executive Ghaywan is already known internationally for his debut film 'Masaan', which also premiered at Cannes and won two big awards there.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Homebound director Neeraj Ghaywan: ‘I'd been hiding for 35 years. When you masquerade, your confidence dies'
Neeraj Ghaywan's debut feature Masaan premiered in the Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015. Set in Banaras, it was a story of collisions, in which unruly modernity and hidebound tradition rubbed up against each other, showing us the pushes and pulls India has lived with for centuries. And giving us a filmmaker to watch out for. Ten years on, he returned to the Croisette with his second feature Homebound, which screened in the same section, the only Indian film to have been officially selected at the festival. The film, born out of a New York Times piece by journalist and writer Basharat Peer, cements the filmmaker's concerns — capturing the voice of the marginalised, speaking up for empathy and kindness and leaving us with a glimmer of hope. Neeraj Ghaywan spoke to The Indian Express a day after the Cannes premiere — attended by the cast and crew, including lead actors Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, and producers Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta and Somen Mishra — which left the audience teary-eyed, garnering a nine-minute standing ovation. It was a free-flowing conversation on how Homebound came about, his own struggle with accepting his identity and how his 'coming out' has impacted his life. Excerpts: Masaan's reception here at Cannes was quite memorable. How did you feel about the way the audience responded to Homebound? There were so many wet eyes and you were wiping away tears yourself… I have seen the film a hundred times and even during the tech check I was dozing off, thinking I can't stand this film anymore, let's just get done with it. But once it started, so many visceral emotions welled up… like there's the making of a pukka ghar (belonging to the Dalit protagonist). When I was very young, we also had a kachcha khaprail wala ghar (house with clay-tiled roof). When we were building our house with cement, it was such a dream, all of us children would fight with my father, saying, 'Humein bhi daalna hai paani (we also want to help moisten the cement)'. When I saw this on screen, all those memories started coming back. I started tearing up and Karan (Johar) was sitting next to me and he also started tearing up. And I was like, who do I turn to, everyone is crying. It was overwhelming. Also Read | Cannes 2025: Neeraj Ghaywan's Homebound is a timely, trenchant testament to our times We don't even realise we put in our films so much of what we are, who we are. Also because I'm so much that person, my work and I are so fused together, maybe that's why I took 10 years to make another film. How did Homebound come about? When I first started reading Basharat's story, which Somen (Mishra) got me, it shook me, and I thought why don't I write a larger story. Across the world, all minorities, people of colour, ethnic, religious, sexual minorities, even migrants, are relegated to statistics. It takes away accountability and becomes empty rhetoric. What if we pick one person, see what all happens in that person's life, what did they eat, whom did they love, who did they leave behind, what made them go back, maybe there will be more empathy. I'm not coming from a place of anger. I don't want to villianise anyone. In fact, I feel people want to empathise with the 'other side', I want to hold their hand, I want to say, let's talk. Maybe we've gone too far, let's recalibrate. Empathy and kindness are what the world needs badly at this point. For a long time, you were not talking about your identity. Then at some point you embraced it and your being Dalit has become almost a badge of honour. What changed? How did you find the courage to come out? For 35 years, I had been hiding. When you masquerade, your confidence dies. Every step you take, you think someone's watching you. My eldest sister was getting married — it was a Buddhist wedding — and I didn't want to go, because my big fear was that I would be outed. And then, finally, when I did speak up and it made the papers, my domestic help said, 'Bhaiyya, aap ki photo aayi hai (Your photo is in the paper)'. It took me three days to find the courage to tell her. How did she respond? She said, 'Achcha dada, aap Jai Bhim waley ho, par usse koi fark nahin padta (You are part of the Jai Bhim community, but that doesn't make a difference)' because you take care of us so well. Then I called my driver, made chai for him, and told him as well. He went quiet for a bit, and said 'Hamaare ghar waley chooaa-chhoot maantey hain (my family practises discrimination) but it makes no difference to me'. Just imagine, speaking to my staff was difficult, it was super-duper difficult to talk to anyone else. My journey of becoming an Ambedkarite happened after that… I was like Chandan (the Dalit protagonist in the film), I was also hiding, but the more I read up, the clearer everything became. But I also have to say that the weight of it is insurmountable. To be the only self-acknowledged Dalit in all of Hindi cinema history is two things — one that you have immense responsibility and at the same time, I don't want to be bracketed. I want to be a filmmaker making various kinds of films. I come from Ray's school where politics can never supersede your narrative. If that happens you are a propagandist. Then you're not cinema, you're vox pop. What changed after the coming out? Because I came out, my entire extended family got outed. Like me, most of them were masquerading, in their workplaces, in government offices, in senior positions. My nieces told me they were not comfortable with how they were being perceived. One person said good for you, but tough for me. I'm still trying to navigate this, and coming into my own. I don't rue the fact that many people from my community want to practise Hinduism. It should be to each their own, as long as you practise humanity. My transformation happened through support from a lot of members of the community (Prakash Ambedkar, Suraj Yengde) and, of course, my close friends from within the filmmaking community. A post shared by Shubhra Gupta (@shubhragupta) You got a lot of flak for showing a very glittery Dalit wedding in the TV series Made In Heaven (Season 2, 2023). Are you compensating by showing a very simple one in Homebound? I'm glad you asked this question. The character in Made In Heaven was a very successful Dalit woman from Columbia University. It was a show about rich people. I wanted to shoot it with aplomb, so a Bvlgari ka mangalsutra wouldn't be out of place, okay? Also our production designer (Sally White) made it so stunning. It was a statement. Just because we are Dalit, why can't we have designer things? Aap ko jeans pehenne se dikkat hai, aap ko mooch ugaane se dikkat hai, aap ko ghodi chadne se dikkat hai, toh main aap ko dikhaaoonga ki yeh sab ho sakta hai. (You have a problem if we wear jeans, grow a moustache, or be carried on horseback for our weddings: I will show you that all of these can be done, and why not?) But in Homebound, I was also aware of the class I was showing. Sudha Bharti (the other Dalit protagonist in the film) ek railways ke chotey officer ki beti hai, toh uska setup bhi chota hi rahega (is the daughter of a junior railway office, so her setup is spartan). I was trying to represent Sudha's reality. How long did it take to add the layers of gender and class to the base story of Chandan Kumar and Mohammad Shoaib Ali, the Muslim-Dalit duo? It took me three years to write the screenplay. There's a lot of me in it, the masquerading, my own journey, acceptance. In my childhood (in Hyderabad), I had a great friend called Askar, and his biryani would be the best, and one Eid when it didn't come, I jumped over the terrace and starting gobbling it straight from the vessel, and when the family returned and saw me, I was so embarrassed. This is in the film. If there's one thing common to any community in the world, it is patriarchy. It is a unifier. Growing up, I was the son after three daughters, so I was pampered a lot. More than my father, it was my mother and grandmother. And when I became aware of it, I was so ashamed, and I wanted to call out myself. So there is Chandan's sister Vaishali (in the film) calling him out on his privilege. What made you choose Ishaan and Janhvi? Was there pressure from Dharma Productions to include stars? I had a cakewalk, you know. Here I am, making an indie-minded film with the biggest studio, with Karan Johar, with these stars, and Mr (Martin) Scorsese lending his name (to our film), and we are at Cannes. I'm vicariously living the dream of every independent filmmaker. I didn't set out to make a disruptive movie. The actual reason is that the people attached came with genuine passion and empathy, that's all what I wanted. I cannot attach to people who don't feel for the politics (shown in the film). The deeper truth is much more important because they have to feel the lived reality as I have done. If they don't, I would feel dishonest. We, as indie filmmakers, have a snooty bone about stars. Janhvi, I was sure about. We had been talking about making a biopic before this. I met her and told her I wanted her to audition, I'll train you, and workshop with you. She was going through a difficult time. For 10 days, we worked together. Initially, she would cry a lot, and slowly, I don't know how, it became therapy for her, and she became better through it. I spoke to her about privilege, and she read Annihilation of Caste, and went into a rabbit hole of understanding caste on her own. She started questioning a lot of things. She transformed through those days and came up with a terrific audition. I did a very long immersion with the boys (Ishaan and Vishal). I told them that you come from varied backgrounds but are privileged. The characters won't come to you, you have to go to the characters, you will have to leave yourselves behind, unless tum log teh tak nahin pahunchoge, woh sach camera mein dikh jayega, agar tum sach se avgat nahin ho paatey ho, toh uss character ko karne ke haqdaar nahin ho, tumhaara privilege nahin banta (until you reach the depths, the truth, you do not have the right to play that character, that is not your privilege). Also Read | Homebound at Cannes 2025: The real story behind Neeraj Ghaywan's sophomore directorial Like in Masaan, I had told Vicky (Kaushal, in his breakout debut role) that ki yaar, tumko Banarasiya banna padega, nahin toh unki tauheen hai (you will have to become Banarasiya, or you will demean the character you are playing). During the immersion exercise, we toured around north Indian villages, we went into homes, ate with families, lived through so many magical moments. It rewired them somehow, and you can see that in the film. Also I was aware that main Cannes mein dikhaoonga, aur phir Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, do-teen screen mil jayega, that's all. (I was aware that the film will be in Cannes and then in big cities in India in two or three screens, that's all). But is that the extent of our responsibility? If the people we are basing our film on, if they don't feel seen, what is even the point of us artistes? If the presence of stars gives me that extra edge then maybe the film will go to a Kanpur, a Lucknow or Bhopal. That is a win. But at the same time, I will never compromise on performance. In 10 years, do you see any difference in the perception of Indian cinema at Cannes? I have two words: Payal Kapadia. She has just exploded, she has broken the ceiling, she has made way for so many people to come in and I don't think we celebrate her enough. I think that's the biggest change that's happened. Personally, for me, it's a sort of homecoming. This is where it all started, and I'm homebound to where it started. Toh meri ek tarah se ghar waapsi hai!
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cannes spotlight on MP with film on tests & plight of pandemic migrants
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh and Bhopal are in the spotlight with Neeraj Ghaywan 's lockdown-era film 'Homebound'. Filmed in and around Bhopal, the feature was screened at the prestigious Cannes film festival recently to great acclaim. The film is inspired by the real-life case of two migrant friends, a Dalit and a Muslim man, and their struggles to reach home during the pandemic, while crossing Madhya Pradesh. 'Homebound' was selected in the 'Un Certain Regard' section of the film festival, marking India's sole representation in this esteemed category. The film received a nine-minute standing ovation from international filmmakers, directors, artists, and audiences. Oscar-winner Martin Scorsese, the director behind critically-acclaimed and cult classics 'Taxi Driver' and 'Goodfellas', served as the executive producer and the collaboration has lent the film further credibility, making it one of the most anticipated films of 2025. The success highlights MP's creative potential and its position as a prime filming destination. 'Homebound' was extensively filmed across Bhopal and its surrounding areas in 2024, utilising the region's natural landscapes, its serene and quiet beauty, which provided authenticity to the text of the film. The film's international recognition validates the state's film-friendly policies and location suitability. TOI covered the incident the film is based on in May 2020 under the report with the headline 'Dying migrant forced out of truck, friend sticks with him till last breath', which covered how Mohd. Yakoob stood by his friend Amrit Kumar's side against all odds, even after the latter's death at a time when migrants in great numbers were trying to reach their home. The film is an adaptation of journalist Basharat Peer's article 'A Friendship, A Pandemic & A Death Beside The Highway', which tells of the same case. Produced by Dharma Productions under Karan Johar 's leadership, 'Homebound' marks their fifth project in MP. The film, directed by Ghaywan, previously acclaimed for 'Masaan', which also screened at Cannes, features Ishaan Khattar, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. The production team praised MP's diverse locations and support, expressing interest in future collaborations. S tate tourism minister Dharmendra Bhav Singh Lodhi extended congratulations to the 'Homebound' team. The govt pledges continued support to attract more national and international productions. Principal secretary tourism and culture, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, commended the film's achievement. He highlighted MP's advantages: attractive locations, supportive local communities, and a robust film ecosystem. The state offers special assistance and streamlined permissions, welcoming filmmakers to realise their creative visions. The state's new film tourism policy has simplified production processes through a single-window system and subsidies. The state earned the 'Most Film Friendly State' award in 2022.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Madhya Pradesh-shot film 'Homebound' creates buzz at Cannes Film Festival
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 28 (ANI): Neeraj Ghaywan's feature film 'Homebound', shot in Madhya Pradesh, won critical acclaim at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, a release said. The film premiered in the renowned 'Un Certain Regard' section at Cannes and was the only Indian film to be featured in this prestigious category. The screening was met with a standing ovation lasting nine minutes, with international filmmakers, directors, artists, and audiences lauding the film. The film's global standing was further elevated by the involvement of internationally acclaimed, Oscar-winning American filmmaker Martin Scorsese. This achievement not only highlights the creative potential of Madhya Pradesh but also reinforces the state's reputation as a preferred global film-making destination. A major portion of 'Homebound' was shot in 2024 in Bhopal and nearby areas, which offered a rich mix of natural, cultural, and urban landscapes. The international recognition of the film is a testament to the state's film-friendly policies and the suitability of its diverse locations for cinematic storytelling, as per the press release. 'Homebound' has been produced under the banner of Dharma Productions, marking their fifth film shot in Madhya Pradesh. The film is produced by Karan Johar and directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, whose earlier film Masaan also received critical acclaim. 'Homebound' stars Ishan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor in lead roles. The team expressed immense happiness over the appreciation received at Cannes. The Homebound team praised the smooth filming experience in Madhya Pradesh. From the easy availability of diverse locations to the support of local communities, the filmmakers regarded the state as an ideal shooting destination. Several team members expressed a strong desire to return for future projects, as per the release. Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, Religious Trusts and Endowments Dharmendra Singh Lodhi congratulated and extended his best wishes to the 'Homebound' team on this achievement. He stated that Madhya Pradesh's natural diversity, historical heritage, and cinema-friendly environment have once again proven their worth. The fact that an internationally acclaimed film like 'Homebound' was shot in our state, and that the team experienced seamless support throughout, stands as a testament to our film policy and the cooperation of local communities. The state government is fully committed to extending all possible support to the film industry, so that more national and international projects are drawn to the region, the release added. Principal Secretary, Tourism, Culture, and Religious Trusts and Endowments Department, and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Sheo Shekhar Shukla, extended his congratulations to the film's producers, director, cast, and crew for this remarkable achievement. Shukla stated that Madhya Pradesh has become a prominent ease-of-shooting destination due to its scenic shooting locations, supportive local communities, a collaborative film ecosystem, and rich cultural heritage. The state also encourages local talent and provides assistance through financial incentives and a single-window clearance system for film permits. He welcomed filmmakers from across the globe to bring their creative visions to life in Madhya Pradesh, adding that Homebound's international recognition proves that the state is rapidly emerging as a hub for creativity and cinema. Madhya Pradesh's new Film Tourism Policy has streamlined the process for producers and directors. The single-window system has made permit acquisition easier, while financial subsidies have incentivised film production. Since the launch of the Film Tourism Policy, over 350 films and web series have been shot in the state. So far, financial support of over INR 24 crore has been granted to 12 Hindi films, 1 Telugu film, and 6 web series. It is worth mentioning that Madhya Pradesh was awarded the title of 'Most Film-Friendly State' in 2022, as per the press release. (ANI)
